Let’s Kill Uncle

Following Russell Harrison's death, Barnaby learns that his estate will pass to him when he comes of age. For now, the money is inaccessible, and Barnaby must live with his uncle on a remote island. The voyage to the island marks the start of a new, uneasy chapter in his life.

Aboard the boat, Barnaby meets Chrissie, a girl his age who will also live on the island with Aunt Justine. The two constantly argue, with Chrissie doubting Barnaby's tall tales about his uncle's exploits. The clash foreshadows the distrust that will drive their later schemes.

Upon arrival, Major Kevin Harrison—a celebrated war hero—welcomes them to his remote home and his past deeds. Barnaby worships his uncle and clings to Kevin’s stories, devouring the book Killing the Enemy. Chrissie, coming from a troubled background, observes the dynamic with growing skepticism.

Back on the island, Barnaby continues spinning grandiose tales to impress Chrissie or frighten her. Chrissie remains unconvinced, challenging the truth of his stories and the reality of Kevin's exploits. The ongoing misbehavior solidifies a tense, competitive bond between the two children.

One night, Uncle Kevin awakens Barnaby in wartime beret and battledress and leads him to high cliffs above the crashing surf. He hypnotizes Barnaby and plants the suggestion that he should walk off the edge. Aunt Justine spots Barnaby perilously close to the drop and shouts, snapping him from the trance.

Shaken, Barnaby learns that Kevin intends to kill him for the inheritance. Kevin explains the plan with unsettling calm, implying the first attempt failed only to be repeated. The revelation deepens Barnaby's fear and cements his distrust of his guardian.

Chrissie, initially ignored, begins to suspect Barnaby may have been telling the truth about Kevin's menace. She discovers clues and accepts that Kevin's hostility is real. In a bold move, she suggests they kill Uncle Kevin to stop him from killing Barnaby.

With Chrissie on board, the trio engages in a dangerous sequence of assassination attempts against one another. They improvise traps, misdirections, and counter-moves, each trying to outmaneuver the others. The battles stay psychological, leaving everyone wary and more isolated.

The clashes neither deliver a fatal outcome nor permanently injure anyone; instead they erode trust and pry open anxieties. Each participant weaponizes fear, memory, and manipulation rather than physical violence. The island becomes a theater for a grim, non-fatal war.

At the end, the children are left to ponder which harm is worse: a constant fear of murder or the corrosive effects of deception. The inheritance remains unresolved as adulthood looms. The ending leaves their moral world unsettled, emphasizing the price of the lie.

Barnaby's idealization of Uncle Kevin has to withstand the revelation of Kevin's true motives. He must decide whether to continue trusting a figure he once idolized. The contrast between fantasy and reality shapes Barnaby's view of courage and loyalty.

Although the immediate danger has passed, the fate of Barnaby's inheritance remains unsettled while adulthood is still distant. The ordeal suggests that money cannot repair broken trust and that fear can be as corrosive as violence. The island's isolation reflects the emotional distance now separating Barnaby, Chrissie, and Kevin.